Association between quality of life and severity of profile deviation in prospective orthognathic patients

Aim: to evaluate whether severity of skeletal facial profile deviation assessed by professionals associates with quality of life and psychosocial factors in patients with dentofacial deformities and prospective orthognathic treatment.

Materials and method: The study consisted of 55 patients admitted to orthognathic treatment. Skeletal profile was assessed from lateral head films using cephalometric analysis. The following angles were used to assess the sagittal position of upper and lower jaw and profile: Sella-Nasion-A-point-angle, Sella-Nasion-B-point-angle, and A-point-Nasion-B-point-angle (ANB). For vertical assessment, gonial angle and the angle between Sella-Nasion and mandibular plane were used. Merrifield's Z-angle was used to assess soft-tissue profile. Severity of skeletal facial profile deviation was assessed with deviation in ANB angle. Orthognathic quality of life (OQoL) and psychosocial factors were defined with four questionnaires: Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a body image questionnaire.

Results: Increase in ANB deviation was associated with increased awareness of dentofacial deformity [Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire subscale awareness of dentofacial deformity (OQLQ-AoDD), r = 0.319, P = 0.017). OQOL-AoDD was not found to be equal when ANB angle was divided into three different categories (χ 2 = 6.78, P = 0.034): G1. ANB = 0-4 degrees; G2. ANB <0 degrees; and G3. ANB >4 degrees. Furthermore, categories G1 and G2 differed significantly (U = 50.5, P = 0.017). Increase in ANB angle was also associated with a more positive body image (r = 0.342, P = .023). There were no significant correlations between other cephalometric variables, quality of life, and psychosocial factors.

Conclusion: Skeletal facial profile seems to associate with some aspects of orthognathic quality of life. Professional cephalometric analysis of the severity of facial profile deviation correlates with patients' awareness of their own facial and dental appearance. Patients with more deviating skeletal profile are more aware of their dentofacial deformities compared to patients with normal values.